The 50 Friendliest Cities In The World

The word ‘friendly’ might not instantly come to mind when you think of some of the busiest cities in the world, but with all those people comes a lot of good. We asked our social audience of 1.5 million people “where you would find the friendliest city in the world?”

From how easy the city is to navigate or strangers helping you find your way when that pesky roaming data doesn’t work to making new best friends in a local bar, these are the cities across the globe where you’ll be made to feel the most welcome.

Asian cities rated highly overall, with several US and Canada cities also making it into the Top 10. As for the most friendly city? You’ll just have to read on…

The friendliest cities in the world 2019

Italy makes it onto the Top 50 list thanks to Rome, but it’s still counted as the world’s least friendly city. The city is a tourist hotspot however, so you can understand if locals aren’t always thrilled when asked for directions the hundredth time that day.

With a thriving market square that’s home to the city’s Medina, it’s easy to get lost here, but residents will show you around (just don’t expect that guide to be for free). Casablanca has a great atmosphere, but be aware of pickpockets.

While the city might have a reputation as being too cool for school, Berliners are actually welcoming and the city is very accessible for first time visitors. We’re guessing the low scores came from people rejected from Berghain…

Once you don’t dawdle on the sidewalk or hold up traffic taking Instagram shots, you’ll be made to feel right at home in NYC. Locals might seem a bit gruff at first, but it’s a melting pot of many cultures and the neighbourhoods in each borough have a community feel.

Ho Chi Minh City can be overwhelming to navigate – it’s busy – but it’s a city full of welcoming people. Its developing tourism industry means that locals are eager to practise their English and will chat away to visitors.

You might not think of Kiev as being one of the friendliest cities in the world, but it’s up there. People might not instantly become your best buddy here, but the younger generation are especially warm to strangers.

While a lot of people can pass Colombo by on their way to see other parts of Sri Lanka, this city is a commercial hub with a vibrant food scene. From Tuk Tuk drivers to locals hanging out in a bar, everyone here will make you feel at home.

Honolulu is a fantastic place to visit, live, work and play. The laidback island vibe is made even better by the warm and friendly people you will meet here. Locals are keen to share their traditions with newbies, so expect to learn all about lei making and ukuleles.

The only Spanish to make it onto this list, Madrid is easier to navigate than other cities in Spain and is super LGBTQ+ friendly. Its party atmosphere with tapas evenings and wine bars means that it’s easy to make friends here.

Sydney might not have a reputation for being friendly on a global scale, but our readers ranked it highly in terms of helpfulness from strangers. Look lost? Chances are a good-natured Aussie will help you out.

Don’t make eye contact with anyone on the tube here, say ‘sorry’ a hundred times and you’ll fit right in. London can seem stand-offish on first impressions, say our readers, but locals are also very polite.

Geneva’s multicultural vibe makes it a brilliant city to either visit or live in as a foreigner, as you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Its excellent transport system and multi-language ethos means you’ll be able to navigate the city with ease as you meet friendly residents.

The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is a surprise contender on this year’s list, beating out all other Chinese cities when it comes to friendliness. Despite a potential language barrier, locals here will make sure you have a positive experience of the city.

Puerto Vallarta is a city that has plenty of things to do and see, yet still feels like a cosy small town. Residents here are genuinely warm and friendly, with a great hospitality scene. It’s no wonder it’s been voted one of the friendliest cities in the world.

Moscow can be daunting for the inexperienced traveller, but brave it out and you will see that while some locals are famously unhelpful, others go out of their way to assist. You’ll be knocking back vodka and caviar with your new friends in no time.

The only Indian city to be featured, Jaipur is a student-friendly city with a young and vibrant population. It’s popular on the tourist trail, so the tourism industry here is strong, with residents making the country proud with their attitude towards visitors.

Officially the second friendliest city in Canada (scroll down for the first!), Montreal is a charming place. Visitors will be welcomed in both English and French, and locals are always on hand to recommend a hidden gem to eat or drink.

Charleston’s residents are famously welcoming, making it such a friendly place to spend some time in. The Southern states are well known for their hospitality and kindness and Charleston has both in spades.

The crown of the friendliest city in England for 2019 goes to Manchester, thanks to its exuberant vibe and a multicultural mix of residents. It’s an easy city to find your way around, with plenty of bars and social spots where you will find yourself chatting to locals.

A beautiful city full of history and charm, the people in Budapest are also what makes it stand out as one of the must-visit cities in Europe. Locals have a great sense of humour and you’ll be greeted warmly wherever you go.

While it’s well known that Amsterdam is one of the world’s top bike-friendly cities, it’s also one of the overall friendliest cities in the world. Dutch people are genuinely helpful and will give you directions, tips for local places to eat and more. Just stay out of the cycle lanes!

With Portugal as a country consistently voted among the world’s friendliest places to visit, it makes sense that Lisbon is also friendly. The Portuguese are incredibly warm and the hospitality here is unbeatable. You’ll ask for directions and end up being personally shown there.

With the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo looming, it’s fitting news that the city has an excellent reputation when it comes to making visitors feel welcome. The city can be a culture shock at first (there’s 36 million people living in Greater Tokyo!), but locals will point you on your way and are super chatty and warm.

Bogota is a busy and hectic city but it has real heart – residents will call out to you on the street for chats and kids are fussed over. Despite an old reputation, it’s now a safe and traveller-friendly city. Bogota is also one of South America’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities.

Malawi’s capital city is an amazingly friendly city where locals will help you get your bearings, and even invite you to share a bite to eat or drink. It’s small, with a population of just under one million, so it’s a good size to explore.

Scandinavian in general are friendly cities to visit, and Stockholm is no different. Strangers treat other strangers with warmth and respect here, so visiting as a tourist is a great experience. Expect to make new friends in every bar you go to.

Right from the moment travellers arrive at Changi Airport, Singapore exudes a welcoming atmosphere that continues everywhere in the city itself. It’s modern and is a hugely safe city for travellers. Plus, with English the official language and friendly locals, it’s simple to make connections with people here.

Forget about Mexico City’s reputation for being unsafe – while some neighbourhoods are probably best avoided at dark, locals will look out for you and advise on where to go. It’s a great place for families too, with lots of kid-centric activities.

You’ll feel right at home as soon as you land in Copenhagen, with helpful and open locals who are proud of their city and more than happy to recommend their favourite spots. It’s a compact city with great transport, making it extremely visitor-friendly.

One of the best cities to live in for expats, Nairobi has a cosmopolitan vibe with a large community of locals and expat residents who make the city welcoming for all. Kenyans are generally some of the friendliest people in the world, with our readers certainly agreeing.

Cambodia is largely undeveloped and new to tourism, but despite its recent tumultuous past, locals go above and beyond to make you feel welcome here. People here greet you with smiles and warmth everywhere, from market stalls on the street to upscale hotels.

Houston’s enthusiastic locals and greetings of ‘Howdy!’ everywhere you go have surely helped it secure its place among the world’s friendliest cities. Its large city feel is boosted with small town vibes from locals, who will welcome you with open arms.

Oman’s up-and-coming cosmopolitan city has a hugely positive attitude towards foreigners, making it an ideal place to visit. It’s not the best for getting around (transport leaves a lot to be desired) but it doesn’t matter – lovely locals will show you the way.

Ireland may be a small country, but its reputation of friendly locals is known worldwide, so it makes sense that not one but two Irish cities were voted onto this year’s list. Cork is a charming and compact riverside city, where the chances of a stranger saying hi to you on the street are likely.

The friendliest city in Australia awards goes to Adelaide, where both city centre and ‘burbs residents are friendly to just about everyone. The city has excellent walkability, so you can just wander around at your own leisure. Expect to bond with welcoming locals over a drink or two.

Athens has a longstanding reputation for warm hospitality and a genuine openness towards strangers. Nothing is too much here – whether it’s a local personally walking you to your hotel or sharing their secret spot for a sundowner.

Cape Town’s locals are full of life and warmth and instantly welcome visitors to the city. It’s a safe city for travellers (once you explore with some common sense!) with a diverse mix of locals and an exciting energy. Our readers scored it highly on first impressions, putting it firmly as one of the friendliest cities in the world.

United Arab Emirates is a glittering destination with cosmopolitan cities such as Dubai, but Abu Dhabi scoops top spot for friendliness. With a large expat community and a keen focus on tourism, visitors are really looked after here hospitality-wise.

One of the Caribbean’s most vibrant destinations, locals fondly call Santa Domingo “La Capital”. It’s a lively place for tourists where local guides will tell you about their favourite places for coffee as you stroll along the city streets. You’ll see people helping each other out everywhere you glance, with a strong community feel.

Thailand isn’t called the ‘land of smiles’ for no reason. The entire country is home to extraordinarily friendly people who will fill you with good vibes, but Chiang Mai has been voted the top spot. The northern town is quiet and rural, with charming locals and other friendly travellers.

Consistently voted one of the friendliest cities in the world, Glasgow makes Scotland proud with its attitude towards strangers and tourists. Its warm and welcoming community add a real buzz to the city, making it a popular city break destination.

Brazil’s cultural centre has an infectious party spirit, with locals who will show you around in style. Its progressive atmosphere makes it an enjoyable city to visit, with some of the friendliest people in the world to boot.

That classic Southern charm is in full swing in Nashville, where locals have a buzzing attitude and an eagerness to show off their city to out-of-towners. Add in the lively music scene and it’s clear why it’s been voted America’s friendliest city for 2019.

Christchurch is a testament to New Zealand, with locals who have a resilient and positive attitude and friendly Kiwi charm. Their openheartedness towards strangers makes the city such a beautiful place to visit. You’ll be instantly welcomed with a smile and be a lifetime fan of NZ.

For such a small city, Dublin packs a serious punch when it comes to friendliness. People here are good-natured, with a good sense of humour. Whether you’re lost or just looking for a chat in a pub, Dubliners will be on hand to help out. Locals even thank the bus driver – the perfect example of classic Irish warmth!

Residents of Hamburg are open and accepting of strangers, so Hamburg is an ideal city for tourists. It’s family-friendly and safe, with heaps of culture and makes visitors soon feel like locals. Although not as popular as other German cities, it has its own special charm.

Modern and beautiful, Taipei is an emerging tourist destination with locals who are embracing expats and visitors. Residents are extremely friendly to just about everyone. It’s also known as one of Asia’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities, so everyone will be made to feel welcome here.

One of the friendliest cities in the world is Bruges, a fairytale place in Belgium. The charming atmosphere is hard to match, with a village feel and locals who go the extra mile to welcome tourists. From walking guides to the waiter who serves your hot chocolate and waffles, the people here make Bruges stand out.

Malaysians are naturally friendly and nice to strangers, and Kuala Lumpur is the best example of this. The easy-going temperament of locals and their friendliness towards visitors means that it’s easy to make friends here. KL is a top spot for both tourists and expats.

And the winner out of all the friendliest cities in the world? Vancouver takes top spot, thanks to its extraordinarily friendly residents. The city has an amazing multicultural community who band together to make visitors feel welcome and safe at all times. Locals are quick to offer assistance to tourists and the community vibe makes socialising in Vancouver simple.

Said like a true Torontonian. But that’s OK – we love you anyway (as you’d expect – I live in Vancouver).

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August 16, 2019 10:13 pm

Guest

Mike

LMFAO!
Vancouverites are known to be the unfriendly people in Canada.
I don’t know about any other cities but having lived in Vancouver for 2yrs, I can tell you for sure that 1st place is a rip-off.
Every single city in Canada have nicer people. Victoria, Calgary, Toronto, even Montreal!

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August 15, 2019 10:36 pm

Guest

Alberto

Victoria… hmmm. I’ve had a very different experience.

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August 16, 2019 8:57 am

Guest

Pikabill

It got a lot friendlier after you left

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August 17, 2019 1:09 am

Guest

Pissed off canadian

As a Vancouverite, I say fk off. I don’t think you’ve even been to Vancouver.

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August 16, 2019 1:14 am

Guest

Vancouver Val

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August 17, 2019 5:19 am

Guest

Hulya

Istanbul??? The turks are extremely friendly!

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August 16, 2019 4:32 am

Guest

Jhane Silang

Oh really?!!! This is rediculous and very surprising that the Philippines is not included in the list and Poland. Because in the Philippines we Filipinos are very friendly which was also confirmed by Americans and other Asian countries that is why a lot of Americans loves Filipinos. Poland too (because i am working here) is such a friendly city because they are helpful especially at workplace and in giving directions. This survey is rediculous! You better do your survey again.

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August 16, 2019 4:40 am

Guest

W Y

Poland and Philippines are not cities

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August 17, 2019 12:34 am

Guest

Brendan

Who are morons who draw up thiese lists.

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August 16, 2019 8:12 am

Guest

Jonathan

Come on where’s Hong Kong?

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August 16, 2019 12:55 pm

Guest

Helena

It’s in Asia. 🙂

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August 16, 2019 10:48 pm

Guest

Kel

Is in the top unfriendly list.

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August 17, 2019 1:41 am

Guest

Kayin

You never been pushed around on the MTR or looked at with a death gaze when asking for directions or finding the right amount of money to pay huh?

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August 25, 2019 1:19 am

Guest

Armenia

Who ever written this has a scrow loos or got paid for it.

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August 16, 2019 1:14 pm

Guest

Kong Ing Kai

As one who has set roots and been living in Kuala Lumpur for the past 40 years, I wholeheartedly agree that KL was a most friendly city but its warmth has slowly cooled over the last few years as the city grew and got more ‘urbanised’. I suppose it’s the same with other cities on the list, and the friendliness is just relative but on the absolute sense friendliness naturally goes down as people gets more prosperous.

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August 16, 2019 1:56 pm

Guest

Moussa

This list is just shitty lol.
Bruges? I visited it once, it’s nice but I haven’t met anyone who’s friendly there. In general Belgians are not welcoming people.
A completely wrong list

[…] survey was conducted by travel company Big 7 Travel, who asked its social audience of 1.5 million people […]

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August 17, 2019 12:54 am

Guest

James Dodds

who makes these endless lists, I’ve lived in Vancouver most of my life and although there are many good friendly people here, friendliest in the world would not be the first thing to come to mind, one of the prettiest yes, liberal and inclusive yes, friendliest, no. St. John’s NFL, Galway Ireland , Calgary Alta, are just some of the places I would say are friendlier. Still love Vancouver though.

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August 17, 2019 1:19 am

Guest

John Nelson

I’ve sadly lived in aus(hole)tralia for far too long and one things for sure. Sydney and friendly don’t go in the same sentence – melting pot of hatred is more like it…

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August 17, 2019 5:34 am

Guest

Ryan

Forgot San Diego, California. Incredibly diverse, welcoming of everyone and the weather is beautiful! My brown and black friends had a very difficult time in Charleston, so this list may not take that aspect into consideration. Moscow is notoriously anti LGBTQ, and locals in Rome get pissed at and take advantage of visitors who can’t speak Italian.

Spent a month in downtown London awhile back and found the people very friendly and helpful for directions. Also is safe to walk in ‘the city’ after 11:00 pm. In downtown Vancouver I won’t walk outside after dark; also during the day I can’t even TRAVEL ONE BLOCK without a panhandler hitting me up for money, sometimes very aggressively. During the entire month in London I was maybe asked twice for change. Same goes for NYC where I spent 10 days in Manhatten last year with my sister. Subways in both cities are efficient and people are very friendly when… Read more »

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August 18, 2019 9:37 pm

Guest

Sarmad Zaman

Belfast should be near the top of this list. Friendlier than Dublin and competes well with KL. Istanbul should be here, although Edirne is even better. One man shut up his shop to help me find the holy site.

Sydney’s inclusions surprises me…as does NYC

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August 19, 2019 9:39 am

Guest

Gordon Sims

Wow! Too bad that I didn’t know this prior to my visit to Oxford, England. I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much.

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August 19, 2019 3:15 pm

Guest

Sunny

Toronto (Mcleans or Globe and Mail) will do their own survey and they will be “the most friendly City in Canada” and that will make them feel better.

Kyiv not Kiev! “Kiev” translated fro Russian. We have our own language. You can check the proper pronontiation, please. Recentlt RyanAir changed this common mistake. Thank you!

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August 20, 2019 7:29 pm

Guest

Zee

Thanks for including Kyiv, but please note it should be spelled Kyiv, Ukraine (not Kiev) 🙂

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August 21, 2019 3:28 pm

Guest

Lex

Never been in Breda, the Netherlands??? Best city in the world

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August 22, 2019 9:49 pm

Guest

Donna

Having just spent time in the Canadian Maritimes and having been to Vancouver, I think all Canadians are very friendly, helpful and kind. I agree with a lot of this list but wish there were more US cities on the list, like Savannah, or Boulder.

What happened to San Diego? It tends to be conservative, but that does not mean it is not friendly.
Tourism is big there. Many will vacation there and then decide to move there.

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August 24, 2019 9:39 pm

Guest

John Zellie

What happened to Minneapolis, Mn.

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August 30, 2019 1:16 am

Guest

Balders

No Tbilisi, No Vientiane, No Bergen?
3 of the most welcoming cities I’ve visited.

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September 3, 2019 11:29 am

Guest

anda

I am amazed no Japanese city is in the list. I travelled to all the cities in top 5 and to no.10, but none of them was friendlier than Tokyo for example. Hmmm. In Vancouver or Kuala Lumpur I was definitely not impressed by the locals’ kindness, while in Copenhagen or Orlando I was..

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September 3, 2019 1:48 pm

Guest

anda

– in Tokyo, a garage mechanic left his shop walked with us for 20 minutes to the destination one evening as we didn’t have any maps and he didn’t speak english (and it happened in other cities too)
– in Copenhagen, a bus driver got off the bus and left all passengers wait a couple of minutes just to give us directions

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September 3, 2019 3:18 pm

Guest

John Smart

this list is nonsense. San Diego is very friendly.

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September 3, 2019 2:53 pm

Guest

Edison

Vancouver? I don’t agree and I lived there for a couple of years. Vancouver has two classes of people: the wealthy, and those that serve them

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September 3, 2019 7:54 pm

Guest

Filipe Nery

How Can Moscow be in this list ???
Where LGBT community is pursued by a Tyrant leader and his pupets !!!!